Back injuries affect many people and often result from accidents or physical strain.
These injuries may lead to long-term pain and can limit a person’s ability to move or work.
Awareness of common causes of back injuries, their symptoms, and available treatments helps improve recovery and manage ongoing discomfort.
Common Back Injuries and Their Causes
Back injuries can vary widely based on the cause of the injury (i.e., what the person was doing when they hurt their back) and what part of the back is involved.
Understanding common back injuries and their causes could help you take precautions against them.
Back Muscle, Tendon, and Ligament Injuries
One common category of back injury includes sprains and strains. You might hear the terms “sprain” and “strain” used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference.
A strain stretches a muscle or tendon, which is fibrous tissue connecting muscles to bones. A sprain affects a ligament, which is fibrous tissue connecting bones together.
Strains and sprains are common back injuries that can often occur while lifting something without proper support or while making sudden movements. These injuries usually involve twisting or bending in ways that put too much pressure on the spine.
Vertebrae and Spinal Disc Injuries
Another common group of back injuries involve damage to the spine. It is generally made up of vertebrae (24 small bones) and discs (soft, gel-like cushion) in an alternating stack to form a column.
High-impact accidents may lead to herniated discs, which is when a tear occurs in the disc’s exterior (annulus) and the center of the disc (nucleus) is pushed out through the tear. Some people may also develop spondylolisthesis, a condition where one vertebra slips over another due to trauma or repetitive overstretching of the spine.
Work-related tasks, especially if they involve repeating the same motions every day, might wear down the spine. If some back injuries go untreated for too long, it could lead to conditions like spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal canal containing the spinal cord.
Symptoms That May Indicate Serious Damage
Some back injuries cause symptoms that indicate more serious problems. Pain that spreads into the legs may signal nerve compression or spinal stenosis. Numbness or tingling may also signal that nerves have been affected. Muscle weakness or spasms can make recovery more difficult.
If low back pain lasts longer than a few days, the injury may need further evaluation. Pain that lasts more than three months often points to deeper issues.
Medical Treatments and Recovery Challenges
Appropriate treatment depends on the nature of the injury.
Many people may start with pain relief using over-the-counter or prescription medication. Physical therapy can help restore strength and movement in the back muscles and support healing.
For more serious injuries, a doctor may recommend injections to reduce swelling or surgery to repair the spine. Some people might face a slow recovery, especially if they have chronic low back pain.
Long-Term Effects on Work and Daily Life
Back injuries can limit what people can do at work and home.
Ongoing pain may prevent someone from lifting, standing, or sitting for long periods, leading to missed work or fewer job opportunities. The stress of living with pain can also affect a person’s mental health.
Proving Back Injury in a Legal Claim
Prompt medical attention for a back injury can not only begin the healing process sooner but also lead to more substantial documentation of the injury’s severity, treatment, and long-term effects. These factors could be critical for supporting an eventual claim for damages.
Expert medical opinions can explain the full impact of the injury. A personal injury attorney can use this evidence alongside witness statements and accident reports to connect the accident to the back injury and show how it affects the victim’s daily life.
Compensation for Severe Back Injuries
People with serious back injuries could receive compensation in several forms, depending on the extent of the harm and the impact on their lives.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover direct financial losses. These include medical expenses for doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and assistive devices.
Compensation can also include future medical costs, especially when the injury requires long-term treatment or ongoing pain management.
Injured individuals may also be able to recover wages they missed during recovery or receive compensation for reduced earning capacity if they can no longer return to the same job or work full-time.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the personal, less tangible impact of a back injury. These losses may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and the loss of enjoyment in daily activities.
Chronic pain, limited mobility, and difficulty sleeping all affect how a person lives, even if they do not show up on a bill. Non-economic damages acknowledge this toll and aim to compensate for it.
Punitive Damages
In rare situations, the court may also award punitive damages. Instead of compensating the victim for their losses, this form of damages typically punishes a defendant who acted with gross negligence or intentional harm.
For example, suppose a company knew about a dangerous condition and ignored it. In that case, a jury might award punitive damages to hold the company accountable and discourage similar conduct in the future.
Contact Our Dallas Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know suffered a back injury due to an accident or someone else’s negligence, consider meeting with our Dallas personal injury attorneys about your case.
Our Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers team can review the case, clarify your rights, collect needed records, and advise you on the best way to pursue a claim. Contact us online or call (214) 556-8321 today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.